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McDonald's Japan malware attack: Difference between revisions

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[[File:McDonald's Japan MP3 Player showcase.png|alt=McDonald's Japan MP3 Player showcase from the advertisement. |thumb|McDonald's Japan MP3 Player showcase]]On August 4,2006, [[McDonald's]] Japan in collaboration with [[The Coca-Cola Company|Coca-Cola]] ran an promotion that lasted until August 31. Customers would peal an code from a cup and type the code onto their website, with selected winners of 10,000 individuals obtaining an USB-stick MP3 players loaded with ten free songs. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Sayer |first=Peter |date=2006-10-16 |title=Worm eats its way into McDonald’s MP3 player promotion |url=https://www.infoworld.com/article/2183448/worm-eats-its-way-into-mcdonald-s-mp3-player-promotion.html |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=InfoWorld |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260222055606/https://www.infoworld.com/article/2183448/worm-eats-its-way-into-mcdonald-s-mp3-player-promotion.html |archive-date=22 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-02-13 |title=McDonald's Mp3 Virus {{!}} Info Comp |url=www.youtube.com/watch?v=vV4rxKhiEKo |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=Youtube}}</ref>
{{IncidentCargo
|Company=McDonald's Japan
|StartDate=4 August 2006
|EndDate=31 August 2006
|Status=Resolved
|ProductLine=
|Product=
|ArticleType=
|Type=
|Description=McDonald's Japan, in collaboration with Coca-Cola, ran a promotion in August 2006 where customers would peel a code from a cup and type it into the website for a chance at a free USB-stick MP3 player pre-loaded with ten songs. Those that won had their computer infected with a trojan horse that captured password information if the user was running QQ Instant Messenger.
}} [[File:McDonald's Japan MP3 Player showcase.png|alt=McDonald's Japan MP3 Player showcase from the advertisement. |thumb|McDonald's Japan MP3 Player showcase]]
 
On 4 August 2006, [[McDonald's]] Japan in collaboration with [[The Coca-Cola Company|Coca-Cola]] ran a promotion that lasted until 31 August. Customers would peel a code from a cup and type the code onto their website, with selected winners of 10,000 individuals obtaining a USB-stick MP3 player loaded with ten free songs.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sayer |first=Peter |title=Worm eats its way into McDonald’s MP3 player promotion |url=https://www.infoworld.com/article/2183448/worm-eats-its-way-into-mcdonald-s-mp3-player-promotion.html |website=InfoWorld |date=16 Oct 2006 |access-date=6 Mar 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260222055606/https://www.infoworld.com/article/2183448/worm-eats-its-way-into-mcdonald-s-mp3-player-promotion.html |archive-date=22 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=Loof |title=McDonald's Mp3 Virus {{!}} Info Comp |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vV4rxKhiEKo |website=[[YouTube]] |date=18 Jun 2023 |access-date=6 Mar 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=vV4rxKhiEKo |archive-date=7 Mar 2026}}</ref>


==Incident==
==Incident==
Winner's who received the McDonald's MP3 Player would be infected with an malware called QQPass Trojan that would affect computer's running Microsoft operating system, disabling anti virus protection system and capturing password information if the user is running [[wikipedia:Tencent_QQ|QQ Instant Messenger]], sending it via email to an third party.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Villa |first=Joey |date=2006-10-16 |title=Superspyware Me! |url=https://www.globalnerdy.com/2006/10/16/superspyware-me/ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=Global Nerdy |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250806085622/https://www.globalnerdy.com/2006/10/16/superspyware-me/ |archive-date=6 Aug 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Stevens |first=Chris |date=2006-10-17 |title=McDonalds' free Trojan: "Would you like malware with that?" |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/mcdonalds-free-trojan-would-you-like-malware-with-that/ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=CNET |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250821060514/https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/mcdonalds-free-trojan-would-you-like-malware-with-that/ |archive-date=21 Aug 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Leyden |first=John |date=2006-10-16 |title=Spyware infection prompts McDonalds MP3 recall |url=https://www.theregister.com/2006/10/16/mcd_spyware_mp3_recall/ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=The Register |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260123185302/https://www.theregister.com/2006/10/16/mcd_spyware_mp3_recall/ |archive-date=23 Jan 2026}}</ref>
Winners who received the McDonald's MP3 Player would be infected with an malware called QQPass Trojan that would affect computer's running [[Microsoft Windows|Microsoft operating system]], disabling anti virus protection system and capturing password information if the user is running {{Wplink|Tencent QQ|QQ Instant Messenger}}, sending it via e-mail to a third party.<ref>{{Cite web |last=deVilla |first=Joey |title=Superspyware Me! |url=https://www.globalnerdy.com/2006/10/16/superspyware-me/ |website=Global Nerdy |date=16 Oct 2006 |access-date=6 Mar 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250806085622/https://www.globalnerdy.com/2006/10/16/superspyware-me/ |archive-date=6 Aug 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Stevens |first=Chris |title=McDonalds' free Trojan: "Would you like malware with that?" |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/mcdonalds-free-trojan-would-you-like-malware-with-that/ |website=CNet |date=17 Oct 2006 |access-date=6 Mar 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250821060514/https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/mcdonalds-free-trojan-would-you-like-malware-with-that/ |archive-date=21 Aug 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Leyden |first=John |title=Spyware infection prompts McDonalds MP3 recall |url=https://www.theregister.com/2006/10/16/mcd_spyware_mp3_recall/ |website=The Register |date=16 Oct 2006 |access-date=6 Mar 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260123185302/https://www.theregister.com/2006/10/16/mcd_spyware_mp3_recall/ |archive-date=23 Jan 2026}}</ref>
[[File:McDonald's Japan 2006 Cup Advertisment.png|alt=McDonald's Japan 2006 Cup Advertisement|thumb|I can't delete this ;-; ]]
[[File:McDonald's Japan 2006 Cup Advertisment.png|thumb|alt=McDonald's Japan 2006 Cup Advertisement]]


==Company response==
==Company response==
[[File:McDonald's Japan 2006 Google Translate Page.png|alt=McDonald's Japan 2006 Google Translate Page apology and request for Mp3 players. |thumb|McDonald's Japan 2006 Google Translate Page]]
On 7 August 2006, McDonald's issued a public apology for any consumers infected from the incident. The company offered a web link that removed the malware from computers and allowed winners to return their MP3 players for a free replacement.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thomson |first=Iain |title=Free malware from McDonalds |url=https://www.itpro.com/95790/free-malware-from-mcdonalds |website=ITpro |date=17 Oct 2006 |access-date=6 Mar 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250710015215/https://www.itpro.com/95790/free-malware-from-mcdonalds |archive-date=10 Jul 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=McDonalds Unwittingly Distributes Contaminated Prizes |url=https://www.spamfighter.com/News-6650-McDonalds-Unwittingly-Distributes-Contaminated-Prizes.htm |website=SPAMfighter |date=26 Oct 2006 |access-date=6 Mar 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260213213750/https://www.spamfighter.com/News-6650-McDonalds-Unwittingly-Distributes-Contaminated-Prizes.htm |archive-date=13 Feb 2026}}</ref>  
On August 7, McDonald's issued an public apology for any consumers infected from the incident. The Company offered a Web link that removes the malware from computers and allows winners to return their MP3 players for a free replacement. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Thomson |first=Iain |date=2006-10-17 |title=Free malware from McDonalds |url=https://www.itpro.com/95790/free-malware-from-mcdonalds |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=ITpro |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250710015215/https://www.itpro.com/95790/free-malware-from-mcdonalds |archive-date=10 Jul 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2006-10-26 |title=McDonalds Unwittingly Distributes Contaminated Prizes |url=https://www.spamfighter.com/News-6650-McDonalds-Unwittingly-Distributes-Contaminated-Prizes.htm |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=spamfighter.com |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260213213750/https://www.spamfighter.com/News-6650-McDonalds-Unwittingly-Distributes-Contaminated-Prizes.htm |archive-date=13 Feb 2026}}</ref>  
<gallery>
[[File:McDonald's Japan Customer Support Page.png|alt=McDonald's Japan Customer Support Page in 2006 |thumb|Customer Support Page]]
McDonald's Japan 2006 Google Translate Page.png|McDonald's Japan 2006 Google Translate Page apology and request for Mp3 players
[[File:McDonald's Official Statement.png|alt=McDonald's Official Statement regarding 2006 Japan malware incident |thumb|McDonald's Official Statement]]
McDonald's Japan Customer Support Page.png|McDonald's Japan Customer Support Page in 2006
McDonald's Official Statement.png|McDonald's Official Statement regarding 2006 Japan malware incident  
</gallery>


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
 
[[Category:2006 incidents]]
[[Category:McDonald's]]
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